Let’s Talk Turkey, Well, Tis the Season

A week from today is the day we officially give thanks. We each do that in our hearts, on our tables and by the effort we do or do not make. The important part is to remember to give thanks and of course, to eat or set aside the day with some festivity. Most of us have our favorites and those things which cause us to wipe our chins in contemplation of flavorful memories and past Thanksgivings.

During this past year, I have been looking at two pictures which were drawn by my two youngest grandchildren last year. I couldn’t bear to part with them. I asked them to draw a turkey. Well, as creative children will, they each had their own idea. The turkey drawn by my six year-old granddaughter is feathered and colorful; the other turkey is on a platter, a hole sticking through it where a brazier stick was removed (I’m told) and you can almost smell the succulent aroma coming from it.

Naturally, we had to label one “before” and the other “after.”

These same two, small children decided this year to draw pumpkins. My granddaughter drew a pumpkin and told her brother he had to draw a pumpkin pie, retaining the theme of the pictures from last year; before and after. This didn’t set well with grandson and he replied, “No fair. I had to draw the dead thing last year.” Don’t you love children? They think outside the box. I think we all did at one time before it was educated out of us and fitting in became more important than listening to our own hearts.

This Thanksgiving holiday I challenge you to find your inner child and let him or her loose. Let the magic and memories of the holiday season erase all the gloom and doom we live with constantly. Whether it’s your pain, your politics or family trouble, try to put aside that pressure that is holding you down and discover the enjoyment you once felt as a child.

Sometime along the line of time, we begin to take on the whole world including its problems and sorrows. We definitely begin to feel more like the used up carcass of the turkey instead of that whacky bird attempting to fly around the barnyard. Living with daily pain and suffering can wear us down and cause all the lights to go out. We struggle and stumble in the darkness and search for medical answers. Sometimes we get them, often we don’t. Just thinking about the holidays feels like an additional burden and life has no twinkling lights, no fragrant aromas to conjure up memories.

I have often felt that same panic when what was once a pleasant experience becomes something to dread. It takes on giant proportions and is often an impossibility to pull off. That’s when we’ve gone out for dinner but it has never gone well for us. My husband, son-in-law and grandchildren are all very picky eaters. My daughter doesn’t eat any dairy products. The expense of eating out has never paid off when half the food went uneaten. There’s always catering, an expensive business or buying the whole, precooked dinner at the local markets and I recently discovered some of the super box stores, like Costco have a dinner they deliver frozen, including a cooked turkey and all you have to do is defrost and warm up. Nothing against Costco but a cooked Thanksgiving turkey, wrapped and frozen delivered in dry ice? I don’t think so.

I’ve discovered some helpful tactics to help if you want to have Thanksgiving dinner at home and you or yours want to cook it. For instance, I started shopping for supplies last week and pick up a few more items with each trip to the store. I just can’t handle those “two carts full” shopping trips any longer. I’ve discovered it takes planning and with some help from my daughter, we’re going to pull it off. Thanksgiving for me just wouldn’t be the same without the succulent aroma of turkey and stuffing filling the house. I plan to make it happen by preparing it in stages over three days. Chopping and vegetable peeling can be done early. Even peeled potatoes can be stored in a bowl of water for several days without turning brown. My husband learned how to peel potatoes while he was in the army and all I have to do is give him a bag of potatoes, a peeler and stand back. The only problem is stopping him because he just wants to keep going. If I forget to say, STOP! All I can say is, it’s not a pretty sight. What does one do with ten pounds of peeled potatoes?

Homemade cranberry sauce for us is no more than a bag of fresh berries, orange zest, a bit of candied ginger brought to a boil with some sugar. Orange sections can be added after it cooks. It’s even better after a day or two in the refrigerator. My son-in-law has to have red jello (any flavor) with tiny marshmallows, and my daughter and I love the baked dish I discovered several years ago. It’s all root vegies such as sweet potatoes, parsnips, rutabagas, pearl onions and Hubbard squash cut into small one inch pieces, rolled in only two tablespoons of olive oil with few pinches of fresh thyme thrown in with a dash of coarse salt. It bakes on high for about 25 mins. There will be the necessary relishes which are so easy. Just open the can and display. What would a holiday meal be without a small child putting ripe olives on his/her fingers. For those less daring folks there will be a more conservative vegetable like corn and of course, fresh rolls. Thank you Pillsbury for your wonderful canned crescent rolls.

I used to pride myself on my pies but over the years I have discovered the premade crusts are quite good as is the boxed piecrust mix which is very simple. My family prefers chocolate pecan and pumpkin. Occasionally I’ll throw in a fragrant apple pie with raisins that I top with orange frosting. Talk about gilding the lily. I prefer a fresh turkey but they are becoming more difficult to find and I prefer hens to toms; more juicy fat. No remarks. I also never worry about dry turkey as I have always cook my turkey upside down. I know, you don’t get that Ta Da moment when you serve it but a moist piece of meat is better.

I know each of you will celebrate or not in your own way but for me this works. Boxed or bagged stuffing can be made delicious with the addition of your favorite herbs or vegies. My Dad always wanted oysters in his stuffing. He had his own casserole dish because most of us didn’t agree with him. I love stuffing. If I feel up to it I’ll add a pan of homemade cornbread to the celery, onions and sliced water chestnuts.

When you compare these modern times to the turkey dinner that was purportedly shared between the Indians and the earliest settlers, it’s an amazing comparison. First of all, most of us with chronic diseases would be dead. Life was cold, challenging and patience was definitely required. We’re short on all of those today. Therefore I recommend we take advantage of fast food, easy mixes, and all shortcuts possible. There are no medals out there for martyred cooks and dying with a turkey baster in your hand would only make them wonder.

Each of you have my prayers, love and best wishes as you individualize your day to what works for you and yours. Just remember even if we think we have nothing to be thankful for; you’re not looking hard enough. Take time to sit down and enjoy your company or just your spouse or children. If you’re alone, have a turkey sandwich with the dog or cat. Happy Thanksgiving.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sue Falkner-Wood

Sue Falkner-Wood is a retired registered nurse living in Astoria, Ore., with her husband, who is also an R.N. Sue left nursing in 1990 due to chronic pain and other symptoms related to what was eventually...read more